Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

Machiavelli did not have the habit of going to church.On Friday he waited until evening prayers were over and the congregation were leaving the church before he entered the hallowed sanctuary.He went in just in time to see Father Timoteo entering the confessional.After a while, Aurelia also walked in with the priest.Lady Caterina sat alone in the middle of a chapel.Machiavelli went and sat down beside her.She was not surprised when she saw him, Machiavelli thought, the priest had already greeted her, and she had been expecting him.But Machiavelli felt that there was no need to go around in circles—so he told her straight to the point that he was hopelessly in love with her daughter, and asked her to express her love for him in front of her daughter, and to thread the needle for him.Not only was Caterina not annoyed by Machiavelli's confession, but she was amused.She told him that he was not the first to try to get her daughter out, but those who had come before had failed.

"I have brought her up very strictly, Monsieur Niccolò. She has been a faithful and dutiful wife from the night I brought her a virgin to Monsieur Bartolomeo's marriage bed. " "If my information is accurate, she did so only because there were no other opportunities." Katerina let out a low, lewd laugh. "Master Niccolo, you have a lot of experience, and you should understand that if a wife wants to cheat her husband, he can't take any preventive measures." "All history has shown you to be right, Ms. Catalina. And, from the tone of your voice, I think you're someone who can discuss issues openly and honestly."

She turned her head on one side and looked at Machiavelli seriously. "Master Niccolo, I have experienced too much misfortune in my life. I have gone through turbulent waves, and now I finally have a peaceful harbor to rest. I don't want to take unnecessary risks." "I can quite understand that. But are you sure that your anchor is strong and the moorings are strong enough?" Katrina didn't answer.Machiavelli sensed from her silence that she was uncomfortable about the question.He went on. "I think that if Lady Aurelia does not soon produce the heir whom Bartolomeo has been dreaming of, he will consider adopting Lady Constanza's two sons. Do you think I am right? ?”

Katerina was silent again and did not answer. "You have experienced the world, madam, and I don't need me to tell you what the situation will be for you and your daughter once that happens." Two lines of tears flowed down Katerina's face.Machiavelli patted the back of her hand affectionately. "Desperate situations require desperate solutions." She shrugged dejectedly. "Although I can help Aurelia overcome her fear, there is no such opportunity." "Does your daughter hate me?" "You can make her laugh," laughed Caterina. "A joke can win a woman as much as a good-looking face."

"Madam, you and I really want to go together. Once there is such a chance that we can carry out our wishes without danger, can I count on your help?" "Not just overcoming my daughter's fears, but helping her overcome her scruples." "These scruples, which your common sense cannot dispel, we leave to our illustrious Father Timoteo. He does not like Dominicans." Katerina let out another low laugh. "You are an attractive man, Master Niccolo. If I still have a bit of beauty and you like it, I will not refuse you." "Old cow," Machiavelli murmured to himself.But he still pressed her hand and replied loudly, "If I didn't love your daughter so passionately, I would be more respectful than obedient."

"Aurelia is here." "I'm taking my leave." After slipping out of the church, Machiavelli entered a silversmith's shop.There he bought a silver necklace, for he had no money for a gold necklace either, but it was a fine silver necklace.The next morning he sent Pierrot to buy a basket full of figs.Katerina had told him once how she loved figs.Machiavelli places the silver necklace at the bottom of the basket and tells Piero to take the basket to Caterina.Machiavelli asked Piero to tell Caterina that these figs were a gift from him to her, and to add that under the figs was something that Machiavelli wanted to beg Caterina to accept. Represents his respect for her.He felt that there was a full mutual understanding between him and Katerina, but a small gift would confirm that mutual understanding more than anything else.